Poll: Americans and Seatbelts

[ace_of_something]

Okay, context: I have a mate who lived in the US for most of his young life, moved here about a year ago. Every time he gets in my car he complains about having to wear a seatbelt.

"Ugh they're so uncomfortable, nobody at home wore them, this stupid country etc."

Why is there such hatred for the things? Sure, it's not as comfortable as doing without, but neither is lying on the hot road with bits of glass embedded in your freshly peeled skin.

Your friend is full of it. Every single state in the united states has laws about seatbelts. It's just some people are idiots and we have a population of 350million plus. So we have an extra heaping of idiots.

The only person I personally know that has seatbelt issues. Only does because his morbidly obese (like she can't get out of the house now and mentally ill) mother wouldn't wear them. He has since overcome his problem because his wife flips out on him for not wearing it.

 

[joebthegreat]

I wear one out of habit, make people who drive with me wear one...

And I don't believe I've ever known anybody who doesn't.

Seriously, who doesn't wear a seatbelt? WTF?

 

[devotedsniper]

i live in the UK, i always wear mine but i can see the point about them being uncomfortable at times, they always tend to rub against my neck (i'm tall, well over 6ft), that or if i'm pulling away fast they always tension up (like their meant to) and wont let me move from the back of my chair for a min or two lol.

On the other hand my housemate who is a terrible driver (2 crashes, accelerates for anything even pulling into the middle of a junction to turn right, brakes very very late, etc.), she's starting to get into the habit of not wearing one (along with talking on the phone while driving which the police have pulled her for and warned her about it twice, with no penalty...). I fear for my life when i let her drive >.>;

 

[Lucie]

When I was young I got in a minor car accident and I wasn't wearing a seatbelt. I got a mild concussion that could easily be prevented by wearing a seatbelt. If I drive you will put your seatbelt on, it's a minor inconvenience but it saves lives.
But I'm not an American so I will just go now.

 

[SirDoom]

It's not about the belt. It's about the government not having the right to protect me from my own stupidity.

I happen to like being thrown through windows at high speeds. It builds character.

No really, I don't have anything against seatbelts, but I don't think they should be mandatory. I'm not hurting anyone by potentially killing myself. Well, aside from the obvious, but that particular case is hardly illegal.

I have a real good reason for them to be mandatory. I don't want to replace my radiator because some dumb fuckwad was too stupid to strap in.


Oh, and yes, I do believe my radiator is worth more than someone too stupid to put a seatbelt on.

My problem with that argument- The property damage will be done regardless of seatbelt usage. If someone rams into your car at 40mph or more, then it's going to get beat up. Wearing a seatbelt isn't going to make your vehicle hit the other one with less force, and it certainly isn't going to prevent the other guy's car from being damaged.

In fact, the only case I can think of where not wearing a seatbelt would matter is the case where you hit someone or are hit square in the front of your vehicle (as in running into the back of someone, or a head on collision) with enough force to throw you out of the front window without being significantly slowed by the glass. Even in that case, you would still have to be aimed just right to hit the other car, and going fast enough to cause damage.

Only when all of those conditions are met can you do damage by not wearing a seatbelt. Personally, I'm not willing to legislate away freedoms on a "Well, if this happens, and then this happens, and it's that rare occasion where the stars are in just the right position, then bad things will happen" argument.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Uncomfortable? Psh, I don't even notice them anymore. Seatbelts are just an automatic response for me and they've saved my life before.

Those things take more lives than they save anyway.

Silly Yanks...

 

[ace_of_something]

i live in the UK, i always wear mine but i can see the point about them being uncomfortable at times, they always tend to rub against my neck (i'm tall, well over 6ft), that or if i'm pulling away fast they always tension up (like their meant to) and wont let me move from the back of my chair for a min or two lol.

I'm six and a half feet tall and most of my family is taller. I'm confused. Seatbelts don't rub our necks if anything they come down on our arms in a weird place.

 

[HapexIndustries]

See, I don't get that, if you're going to go to the effort of making it LOOK like you're wearing a seat belt, how much more harder is it to just slide the hook into the latch?

About 300% harder, but anyway... It's not that it's more difficult, it's that I don't like feeling restricted across my chest and lap. And no, I'm not some fat blob, I just don't particularly care for it, or the idea of insurance companies dictating legislation. If I don't want to wear a seatbelt and risk my life everyday I drive around in a metal/plastic box, surrounded by crazy cracked out Americans, that's my business.

Statistically speaking, its that short drive you are more likely to have an accident in.

And I am totally aware that, statistically, accidents are more likely near your home (because everytime you leave or arrive from anywhere, you are near to your home, etc). I don't believe in statistics, though. I create my own reality constantly and tying it down with numbers will only limit my imagination. The only reason I wear it at all is so I don't get pulled over and the "safety blanket" sensation I get when I'm going way faster than I should be.

 

[Woodsey]

If you crash and you aren't wearing a seatbelt, there's every chance you'll kill someone else in the car, even if they're all buckled up.

Your big ugly noggin crashing into someone else's at 50mph is certainly enough to kill them instantly.

 

[Broax]

It's funny... America gets seems to get way too much bad attention... I'm from Europe and I always thought that no one in the US used a seat belt... I know it's a bit prejudice of me but it's the vibe I got here...

These poll results where surprising... But I'm glad for you! =)

 

[Broken Orange]

I always drive with a seatbelt. Recently, I tried to see how it felt to drive without the seatbelt on and I just kept on imagining that this would be the one time I would get in an accident and fly out the front window. So yeah, I don't mind seatbelts.

 

[TheRealCJ]

Okay, context: I have a mate who lived in the US for most of his young life, moved here about a year ago. Every time he gets in my car he complains about having to wear a seatbelt.

"Ugh they're so uncomfortable, nobody at home wore them, this stupid country etc."

Why is there such hatred for the things? Sure, it's not as comfortable as doing without, but neither is lying on the hot road with bits of glass embedded in your freshly peeled skin.

Your friend is full of it. Every single state in the united states has laws about seatbelts. It's just some people are idiots and we have a population of 350million plus. So we have an extra heaping of idiots.

The only person I personally know that has seatbelt issues. Only does because his morbidly obese (like she can't get out of the house now and mentally ill) mother wouldn't wear them. He has since overcome his problem because his wife flips out on him for not wearing it.

Yes, I've since done the research and come to that conclusion. However, according to wikipedia, my mate's home state only has a ten dollar penalty for not wearing one, and you can only get fined if if you commit another infringement.

 

[Xman490]

lol @ second 2 options

 

[bdcjacko]

Honestly I don't see why people ***** about them. Sure my seatbelt feels like it's trying to saw my head off, a trait most Ford seatbelts here in the US seem to share, but that feels a whole lot better than flying through the windshield and slamming into a tree would.

I find the ford ranger's seat belt comfortable. And I am 6' 220 lbs. So I'm not little.

 

[ace_of_something]

Okay, context: I have a mate who lived in the US for most of his young life, moved here about a year ago. Every time he gets in my car he complains about having to wear a seatbelt.

"Ugh they're so uncomfortable, nobody at home wore them, this stupid country etc."

Why is there such hatred for the things? Sure, it's not as comfortable as doing without, but neither is lying on the hot road with bits of glass embedded in your freshly peeled skin.

Your friend is full of it. Every single state in the united states has laws about seatbelts. It's just some people are idiots and we have a population of 350million plus. So we have an extra heaping of idiots.

The only person I personally know that has seatbelt issues. Only does because his morbidly obese (like she can't get out of the house now and mentally ill) mother wouldn't wear them. He has since overcome his problem because his wife flips out on him for not wearing it.

Yes, I've since done the research and come to that conclusion. However, according to wikipedia, my mate's home state only has a ten dollar penalty for not wearing one, and you can only get fined if if you commit another infringement.

Most of them it's similar because it's just supposed to be a reminder and scare them the first time. The 2nd time in my state for example is $500. (first time is $50)
Side note: a lot of states with strong agriculture backgrounds tend to have it that you only need to wear a seatbelt in the FRONT seat. (due to the use of farming equipment and trucks sometimes not HAVING a back seatbelt)
It's kind of stupid.

 

[TheRealCJ]

DAMN!

TWO idiot poll options!

Y U DO DIS OP? ;-;

Just to mess with your head and ruin your ability to be decisive.